Monday, July 25, 2016

Medal of Honor Monday: Anthony P. Damato

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above
and beyond the call of duty while serving with an assault company of the
Second Battalion, Twenty-Second Marines, Fifth Amphibious Corps, in
action against enemy Japanese forces on Eniwetok AtollMarshall Islands, on the night of February 19,-20, 1944. Highly
vulnerable to sudden attack by small, fanatical groups of Japanese still
at large despite the efficient and determined efforts of our forces to
clear the area, Corporal Damato lay with two comrades in a large foxhole
in his company's defense perimeter which had been dangerously thinned
by the forced withdrawal of nearly half of the available men. When one
of the enemy approached the foxhole undetected and threw in a hand grenade,
Corporal Damato desperately groped for it in the darkness. Realizing
the imminent peril to all three and fully aware of the consequences of
his act, he unhesitatingly flung himself on the grenade and, although
instantly killed as his body absorbed the explosion, saved the lives of
his two companions. Corporal Damato's splendid initiative, fearless
conduct and valiant sacrifice reflect great upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his comrades."